Synchronizing information across telecommunications terminals for multiple users

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed that enable the synchronization of user profile information for M users who are sharing K telecommunications terminals, wherein M and K are not necessarily equal to each other. The disclosed technique addresses the problem that occurs when multiple users share multiple terminals, in which a user that selects a particular terminal to use has to contend with the contact lists, user preferences, and call log entries that are left over from the previous user or users of the selected terminal. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the user profile information is associated with and stored for each user in a group of users, in contrast to being associated with and stored for the telecommunications terminal. The user profile information comprises (i) contact information, (ii) call or message activity, and (iii) user terminal preferences.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to telecommunications in general, and, more particularly, to synchronizing information for multiple users across multiple telecommunications terminals.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]FIG. 1 depicts telecommunications system 100 in the prior art. Telecommunications system 100 comprises: telecommunications terminals 101-1 through 101-H, wherein H is a positive integer, and server 102, interrelated as shown. Users 103-1 through 103-H are associated with and use telecommunications terminals 101-1 through 101-H, respectively.[0003]Telecommunications terminals 101-1 through 101-H are devices that are capable of communicating with other telecommunications terminals within or external to telecommunications system 100. Examples of such devices are a cellular telephone, an Internet-protocol (IP) deskset, a Session-initiation protocol (SIP) deskset, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a personal computer, and so forth. Also, terminals ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is about a system that allows multiple users to share multiple telecommunications terminals. The problem with using multiple terminals is that users often leave behind personalized information on the previous terminal they used. The invention solves this problem by synchronizing user profile information, such as contact information, call log entries, and user preferences, for each user in a group of users. Each terminal in the group stores a current copy of the user profile for each user, and changes made to the user profile during a login session are sent peer-to-peer from one terminal to other terminals in the group. This ensures that each user's personal workspace is replicated across the terminals. The invention enhances the user's call-handling experience and allows users to access information that they previously left behind on the previous terminal.

Problems solved by technology

The problem with using multiple telecommunications terminals is that when multiple users share multiple terminals, such as in a pooled phone arrangement, a user that selects a particular terminal to use has to contend with the contact lists, user preferences, and call log entries that are left over from the previous user or users of the selected terminal.

Moreover, if the same user previously used another terminal, he would not have access to some or all of his user-specific information on the new terminal.

For example, if a first user participates in a series of calls on a first terminal and, later on, starts using a second terminal, he will not be guaranteed access to his call log that he left behind on the first terminal.

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